According to the UAE law using derogatory language or any form of verbal abuse, irrespective of a person's nationality, is a criminal offence. The 'F' word that you may use with ease in your home country can get you in legal trouble in the UAE. Article 373 of the Penal Code No.
According to the law against verbal abuse in the UAE, a criminal action may be lodged upon a written or verbal complaint by the victim or the victim's legal representative with the police against the perpetrator of an offense related to insult and harassment.
In its latest advisory, the country's Public Prosecution warned residents that slander is a serious crime punishable by hefty fines. Swearing at others, hurling insults, or damaging one's reputation on online platforms is an offence that can get one penalised for Dh250,000 to Dh500,000, the authority said.
Swearing and making rude gestures (including online) are considered obscene acts and offenders can be jailed or deported. Take particular care when dealing with the police and other officials. Public displays of affection are frowned upon, and there have been several arrests for kissing in public.
Swearing on WhatsApp
Swearing in public is completely prohibited in the UAE, with the use of the F-word being a crime, as it “disgraces the honour or the modesty” of a person, according to Article 373 of the UAE Penal Code. Swearing is punishable by up to a year in prison and a fine as high as 10,000 dirhams (£2,157).
There are certain things you can't do in Dubai and PDA is one of them. In Dubai, holding hands, hugging, and kissing in public is considered socially unacceptable and if caught indulging in such acts, you might land up in jail. Many foreigners have already suffered the consequences.
Men can wear shorts, pants, shirts, or T-shirts. Women can wear dresses, skirts, shorts, and T-shirts, blouses, tops… The dress code is somewhat stricter at shopping malls, local areas, and mosques, and also during Ramadan. When in doubt, cover your knees and shoulders.
According to Article 373 of the UAE Criminal Code, using the F-word in public is illegal because it “disgraces the honor or the modesty” of a person. The maximum penalty for cursing is one year in jail and a fine of up to 10,000 dirhams. Swearing is frowned upon by local customs and against the law in Dubai.
31/2021 on the issuance of crimes and Penalties Law (UAE Penal Code), Physical Assault is a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment and/or a fine. The severity of the punishment usually depends on the extent of the harm that has been caused to the victim, as well as the intent of the accused.
UAE swearing fines
The statement said: “Swearing and slander using an information network shall be sentenced to imprisonment and/or fined a monetary penalty of not less than AED250,000 and not more than AED500,000”. The punishments fall under Article 43 of the Federal Decree-Law No.
UAE law: Up to Dh500,000 fine for insulting, defaming people on social media, warn police.
These include: Murder; Treason; Drug trafficking; Terrorism; Rape; Aggravated robbery; Armed robbery resulting in death or injury; The Legal Process for the Death Penalty. The legal process for the death penalty in Dubai is a lengthy and strict one.
“Holding hands for a married couple is tolerated but kissing and petting are considered an offence to public decency,” it adds. “Public displays of affection, as well as sexual harassment or randomly addressing women in public places, is liable to be punished by imprisonment or deportation.”
Your employer should not verbally abuse you and your colleagues in the workplace as abusing any individual in the UAE is a criminal offence. This is in accordance with Article 374 of the Federal Law No.
Verbal harassment can take place in front of others or in private. While verbal abuse is not illegal per se, it is illegal in the workplace if it is associated with sexual harassment or racial discrimination, or if it is part of another type of harassment or discrimination.
In such cases, a judge ruling over the case looks at different factors, including whether the suspect intentionally touched the victim,” judge Saif said. “But a person convicted of flashing their middle finger will face a hefty fine and an imprisonment period from three months to three years.
The cassation and supreme courts in the UAE handed out several precedents and landmark rulings in which any form of public indecency — including the act of flashing a middle finger — has been considered and is treated as a crime of breaching a victim's pride, honour and modesty.
Punishment & Penalty For Domestic Violence In The UAE
According to Article 9 (1) of UAE's Federal Law No. 10 of 2019 (Protection from Domestic Violence), a domestic violence offender shall be subject to; a jail sentence of up to six months, and/or. a fine of up to Dh5,000.
WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption features prevent the UAE government from monitoring calls.
Can you drink alcohol in Dubai? If you're 21 or over, expat or holidaymaker, you can legally drink alcohol in Dubai. However, you will need to purchase alcohol from a licensed premises, such as a shop, and enjoyed in the privacy of your own accommodation.
In general, most 'normal' clothing is tolerated, provided it is not too outrageous. Women do not have to cover their head, face and hair with a scarf or something similar in public, although Muslim women, particularly Gulf Arabs, do cover their hair, face and head with a scarf for cultural and religious reasons.
See our advice above though about appropriate settings for wearing a bikini in Dubai. Can I wear shorts in Dubai? Yes, there's a time and a place for your short shorts, and times when you should really wear full trousers or a long skirt. On most occasions, you should dress for the heat, and shorts are acceptable.
Most public places in Dubai will accommodate decent ripped jeans. For example, you can wear them in the desert, old Dubai, public transport, and shopping malls. However, if they are extremely ripped, avoid wearing the jeans in such places. Wear such in hotels, party brunches, beach clubs, and bars.